2017/12/24 – Goose Lake Plateau III / 鵝湖高原之三

The area had more snow when we last visited two Decembers ago. Temperature reading of 17°F at the start of the hike, felt much colder than being in higher elevations in the mountains. This time we parked a little ways north of Morgan Lake off Morgan Lake Road, half a mile south of our previous starting point.

To make the drive worthwhile, this time we made a big loop hiking counterclockwise. We first meandered through basalt cliffs heading north to Upper Goose Lake, and came out above the end of an unnamed road. Tracing along the top of the basalt cliffs, we headed south toward Lower Goose Lake.

Wind had picked up on the way to the lake, so we stayed just long enough for a photo and a quick bite before moving on. From top of the basalt cliffs, we gradually descended to the lake shore as terrain tapered off at south end of the lake. Hiking southward through more basalt cliffs, we came to the east rim of Black Lake overlooking the lake.

After a quick photo break on the basalt cliffs, we started scrambling northeastward toward Morgan Lake Road. This section through lower plains was rather uneventful, views were not as dramatic as the basalt cliffs farther north.